Oneida businesswoman Helen Acker ready to join Oneida Common Council

ONEIDA -- Long-time Oneida businesswoman Helen Acker is ready to take up her latest role as councilor of the city's Fourth Ward.

Acker will replace outgoing Councilman Mike Kaiser after his resignation June 30. Kaiser, elected twice to represent the Fourth Ward, announced his departure earlier this month after deciding to move to his family's North Main Street home in the Fifth Ward.

Acker, 57, was appointed by Mayor Don Hudson and is expected to be sworn in at the next Common Council meeting July 3 at 6 p.m.

Acker, who has traveled all around the world, moved to Oneida 32 years ago. Growing up in New York City, Acker attended Morrisville State College and worked a string of business-related jobs, even holding a position at radio station WMCR, before opening Oneida Office Supply in 1984. As her husband, Jerry Acker, manages that store, she manages Smith's Decorating and Flooring Center on Lenox Avenue, where she's been for 12 years.

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A mother of two, Acker had been heavily involved in community organizations, including Rotary Club, Oneida's Club, Seneca Street Elementary School PTO, Girl Scouts, the Oneida Improvement Committee and she's served a coordinator of judging for the city Memorial Day parade.

Acker's involvement has been less during the last eight years as she cared for her ailing brother, Jeff Janotka, who was battling cancer. Since his passing last year, she said she's ready and able to be active in the community again.

Her appointment to the council was a surprise but Acker, has, all along, made a concerted effort to stay current on Oneida's politics, attending council meetings when she can and watching recordings on PAC 99 when she can't.

She ran for a seat on the council before; 18 years ago she faced off against Leo Matzke to represent the Fourth Ward. Admittedly a "virtual unknown at the time," Acker praises Matzke for his work on the council and later as mayor and called her candidacy a "wonderful experience" that preserved her motivation to be involved.

Crediting Kaiser with being a proficient leader, the opportunity for her to do the same will allow her to "put my foot in the door." A special election is anticipated this fall to allow voters to decide whether Acker should continue. Otherwise, the position would not have been up for reelection until 2013.

Acker is pointedly unaffiliated with any political party and blames politicians on the national level for that.

She had been a long-time registered Republican but became "disenchanted with the upper echelon" of political leaders and parties. She votes regardless of party endorsements, basing her decision on who she thinks will do the best job.

She expects to bring a different perspective to the council, offering a view of someone who has been "looking in from the outside" and as a woman, mother, grandmother and business owner. With no intentions of "coming in like a bull" and making substantial changes, Acker said she will focus on long-term goals and promote growth within the city, particularly the establishment of new businesses and the expansion of sales tax revenue.

"I love the community," she said. "I think we're a great community. I think we can always be better."

With plans to stick around Oneida for a long time, Acker said she wants to be a part of improving her community. She called the chance to serve on the council a "great learning opportunity." A self-proclaimed "people person," Acker said she's not afraid to ask questions.

Helping people is her passion, she said.

"If I can help people in the community, I can do that too," she said. "I like to help solve problems."